Group:Hardware/Plug Computers

Plug Computers are computers that fit in a small form-factor, are power-efficient and do not interact with the user directly through I/O devices such as monitor and keyboard, but are rather controlled remotely. Most of the time, Plug Computers use a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) with an ARM processor, run a GNU/Linux system and are used as domestic servers.

Contents

Software freedom comparison

While some Plug Computers can be used with fully free software running on the main processor, not all of them are perfect. Hence, here is a comparison of different models of Plug Computers and their flaws regarding software freedom.

Flawless targets

These plug computers can be operated with all the hardware features available, using only free software.

The Globalscale SheevaPlug can be operated using only free software:

The bootloader is free software and can easily be replaced

The kernel and all the drivers needed are free software

There is no hardware component that requires a non-free loaded firmware

Seriously flawed targets

These plug computers are usable with free software, but important hardware features are not functional. There may be workarounds for these however.

The Globalscale DreamPlug is flawed as the WiFi and bluetooth hardware require non-free firmwares

The bootloader is free software and can easily be replaced

The kernel and all the drivers needed are free software

WiFi and bluetooth both need a non-free loaded firmware, but the USB ports make it possible to use external WiFi and/or bluetooth dongles that can work with free software (both USB2 ports can provide up to 500mA). You can get a USB wifi device that Respects Your Freedom like ThinkPenguin TPEN150USB or Tehnoetic TETN150 and use that.

Free software-compatible hardware features comparison

This table compares plug computers hardware features that work with free software. Hence, it does not mention hardware that requires non-free software to function.

Name

Manufacturer

SoC

CPU frequency

RAM

Internal storage

External storage

USB

PCI

Ethernet

WiFi

Bluetooth

SheevaPlug

Globalscale

Kirkwood 88F6281

1.2 Ghz

512 Mb

512 Mb

SD card

1xUSB2

N/A

1x10/100/1000

N/A

N/A

DreamPlug

Globalscale

Kirkwood 88F6281

1.2 Ghz

512 Mb

4 Gb (µSD card)

e-SATA, SD card

2xUSB2

N/A

2x10/100/1000

No

No

Software features comparison

Currently, the best way to run fully free software on these plug computers is to use Debian with the matching ARM architecture. However, the situation with Debian is not good enough[1] for freedom, since Debian hosts a repository of non-free software and encourages their use through the packages web interface and the Debian wiki. Hence, it does not meet the requirements for Free System Distributions[2].

The FreedomBox software[3] is based upon Debian and comes with the same issues as Debian, mentioned above.

Toolbox

Extra

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